Wheel and method of making same



pril 23, 1935. A. T. r vARl\1sTRoMv 1,998,674

l WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed July 17, 1955 INVENTOR. #LF/PED /f//m/vs www.

ATTORNEYJ'.

Patented pr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES Lgt-stu l n '1,998,674 WHEEL, AN-n ME'rnoD or MAKING SAME liiliz'red. T. Kvarnstrom, Detroit,.Mieh., assignor of y one-halfto Bert L. Quarnstrom, Detroit, Mich..y

`Application July 17, 1933, Serial No. 680,881` s Claims. (C1. .eos- 1.81)A

This invention relates to a Wheel or roller, land to a method ofV inaking'the` same. The invention is concerned particularly with a small Wheel' useful on roller skates.

Among the objects of the invention is thejprovision of a better Wheel over those which have heretofore been provided in that it has a greater life, ork in other Words, lasts' longer and a Wheel which gives silent operation. Also the invention aims to provide a Wheel of simplied' structure anda method of makingv the same which, at least in part, makes it feasible to provide a strong Wheel involving the simple structure. These objects aswell as others will become more apparent as the detailed description isA considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.v

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken through a punch and die illustrating one of the first operations in the makingv of the Wheel.

Fig. 2 is a view similarl to Fig. 1 illustrating an operationen 'another part of the Wheel.

' Fig; 3v is V a sectional View' ofi'the Wheel having thepart's assembled and prior to the nal operation.

` Fig. i shows the completedvwheel in cross section.

' Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of a'modied form of the Wheel.' l

Fig. 6 is a side View thereof. Y The' main part of the Wheel', which is the ground engaging part is formed advantageously from a blank of suitable metal, such as steel'. This blank may be subjected to a forming operation by a punch I and a die 2. This part ofthe'vvheel is shoWn'at 3' and, as illustrated in Fig. .1,v the center portion is punched'out to provide an aperture I. The aperture may be punched'in lthe blank at an-y suitable time in the process of'making the wheel either before the punchv and die operation illustrated in Fig. 1, during thepunch and die operation, or following. such operation.

The blank immediately surrounding the opening is fashionedto form a conical shaped part 5 and an intermediate part 6 which may lie perpendicularly to the axis. BetweenV the part 6 and.

the rim,- the metal'may be formed generally 'into a bead or the like, asillustratedat l', the rim part being illustrated at- 8. In this operation the flange or rim 8, being erected from a substantially flat sheet, ,is caused to be positioned in an area havinga smaller diameter lthan that of.Y the original' blank. Accordingly, there is a certain amount of excess metal to be taken care of, and this is used to advantage in the present invention. AThis excess metal flows and is madeV to're'sult in a thickening of the flange or rim 8 as illustratedin Figl'l. Fig. l shovvs this in an exaggerated manner for the purpose-of clearness. As a specific example, it may be mentioned that the original blank stock Vfor the part -3 may be .O93 inch in' 5 thickness, and after it is formed as shown in- Fig. 1, the dimension *across the free edge of the flange may be substantiallyv .lll inch. lTherefore, it Will be seen that the thicken-ing action results in the differential of .0l-8V inch. The die 2 is pro- 10 vided with the recess, the Walls of which are inclinedoutvvardly as illustrated at 9, While' the punch is preferably shaped so that its side Walls parallel the axis. Accordingly, the outside surfaee'oi the rim or angef is slightly conical in 15 shape as atA l (Fig. 3) Whereas the-inside Walls I I are preferably parallel to the axis.

A second blank may be formed as shown in Fig. 2 with a punch l2 and die i3. This blank, generally referenced l5, is preferably of metal 20 thinner than the part 3,y as for example, .O37 inch. This part l5 is providedI with a central aperture I6, aconical shaped' portion surrounding the aperture as' at I1, an intermediate portion I8,V and. a flange I9.Y It may be that in the' 25 forming of the part l5 that the flange i9 will be thickened somewhat unless the dies are designed, to prevent this thickening, but this is a matter of no particular importance as the iiange i9 may befallowedtoV thicken or may be prevented from 30 thickening. y

At this point it is to be pointed out that the dimensions given above for the metal thickness, etc., are exemplary only of' stock which may be used to Vmake a Wheel, it being understood that 355 other dimensions may be employed. n

After the two parts 3v and l5 arek formed, the Wheel may be assembled, and there is only one otherma-jor part, and this comprises a hub 20 having a circumferential groovev 2| for ball bear'- 40- ings 22. y

The assembly is as follows; Suitable' jigs or the like may be provided `for holding the hubl and part 3A in proper associationv and a suitable number: of ballsv 22y may be disposedA in their proper 45 position. These ballsmay be free or they may b e held by a cage. The part l5 is now' telescoped into the cup-shaped member P as shown in Fig.

3. Preferably the member l5l nts tightlyy within the member 3 and the t' may be what is termed 50 v as a press fit. For this purpose thev outside diameter of the ilange I9 may be slightlygreater than thev inside diameter of the rim `8." This differential forv example mayv be .0'18 inch and it' is" tobe understood that' this is' an example r55 fil t nicely within the groove 2| and cone portions' 5 and I'I.

Now it will be observed that the outer face I Y of the wheel does not parallel the axis and to complete the wheel, the rim 8 is fashioned inwardly by pressure through the use of any suit` able means bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4. This results in bringing the outer face I0 substantially parallel with the axis and the inner face of the rim 8 takes a position at an angle to the axis and at the same time the flange I9 is caused to become angularly disposed. Accordingly, the member I is held tightly in position ilush against the intermediate part 6 and cannot be dislocated. In short, the open side of the cup-shaped member 3 has a diameter less than the maximum diameter of the member I5 and the member 3 is ofre-entrant formation.

After the parts 3 and I5 are fashioned as illustrated in Figs. l and 2 and before they are assembled together they Vare then preferablysubjected to a hardening treatment.V Advantageously theL hardening treatment may be such as to result in what is known as case hardening leaving the underlying portions of the metal relatively soft. This provides hardened surfaces for contacting with the ball bearings, and it may be pointed cut that the hub and the bearings are suitably hardened before assembly. This also provides a hardened contact surface at the rim of the wheel. By leaving the underlying portions of the metal soft or unhardened, particularly in the rim 8, the dangerY of cracking or breaking the metal in the rim when it .is fashioned from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 is minimized.

It will be vobserved that the Wheel consists of a minimum number of parts comprising essentially three main parts, namely, the hub, the portion 3, and the portion I 5. Of course, the ball bearings are in additionto these parts. It willr also be noted that a minimum number of operations are required and that. no welding or other means for securing the parts I5 'and 3 together are necessary.

The modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has, in addition to the above Vdescribed wheel, raised portions formed in the member I5. These extend radially as shown in Fig. 6, and have the appearance of spokes. This adds strength to the wheel and also adds toits appearance. These raised portions form channels between the abutting parts 6 and I5, as shown at 26, and one or more apertures 21 may be provided, advantageously in the member 3, so that dust and other extraneous matter which may gain access to the bearing may be removed by centrifugalA action, the material passing out through the channels 26 and apertures 21.

While this wheel is of simple construction yet actual tests have shown it to'be a highly efficient wheel having a life greater than other wheels nowv used on roller skates. Other known wheels now in use, after considerable Wear, stretch or widen out at the rim or ground engaging portion. The metal becomes Worn and thin and the constant use may be likened to striking the metal with a hammer thus tending to thin the metal and spread it out axially. This spreading does not occur with the wheel of this invention. Another important feature of the wheel, which is an object of the invention, is that the wheel gives silent operation. This is due to a sort of cushion action at the bearing. The conical race II, being of relatively thin metal, is capable of some flexing movement and as the wheel is subjected to blows in use there is a ilexing action in the member II which affords this cushion action and results in a silent operation. The bearing may lbe lubricated by merely dropping oil into the bearing portion, but it may be pointed out that severe tests have been made without lubrication and the findings were that successful operation can be had without lubrication. The wheel may be used elsewhere than for rollers for skates.

I claim:

l. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped metal blank, -the iiange of which forms the rim of the wheel, said iiange tapering in thickness with the greatest thickness vnear its free edge, a complementary sheet metal blank telescoping within the cup-shaped blank, the outer surface of the rim of the cup-shaped blank lying substantially parallel to the axis, and the inner surface lying at an angle to the axis, said complementary portion having its periphery in engagement with the inclined inner walls of said flange.

2. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped blank, the flange oi which forms a wheel rim, the wall of the flange being tapered in thickness with the outer surface substantially parallel to the axis and the inner surface angular as regards the axis whereby the cup-shaped member is of re-entrant form, a complementary 'cup-shaped blank telescoped within the rst mentioned cup-shaped portion and held therein by the inclined inner surface of the flange.

3. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped sheet metal blank having a central aperture, a conical shaped part laround the aperture, the ilange of the cup forming a wheel rim and the cross-section of the flange tapering in thickness with the greater thickness at its free edge, the outer wall of the rim substantially paralleling the axis and the inner Wall inclining toward the axis, a complementary sheet metal blank of cup shape having a central aperture and having a conical shaped part around: the aperture, the rim of the complementary blank being telescoped within the rim of the rst mentioned blank, and the two blanks being held in assembled relation by the said inclined walls.

4. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped sheet metal blank having a central aperture, a conical shaped part around the aperture, the flange of the cup forming a wheel and the cross-section of vthe flange tapering in thickness with the greater thickness at its free edge, the outer wall of .the rim substantially paralleling the axis and the inner wall inclining toward the axis, aV complementary sheet metal blank of cup shape having a central aperture and having a conical shaped part around the aperture, the rim of the complementary blank being telescoped Awithin the rim of the rst mentioned blank, and the two blanks being held in assembled relation by the said' 'inclined walls, a hub with a raceway located in the apertures, the said conical shaped parts being reversely formed to provide a V-shaped raceway, and a series of ball bearings confined in the raceways.

5. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped sheet metal blank having a central aperture, a conical shaped part around the aperture, the flange of the cup forming a wheel rim and the crosssection of the flange tapering in thickness with the greater thickness at its free edge, the outer wall of the rim substantially paralleling the axis and the inner wall inclining toward the axis, a complementary sheet metal blank of cup shape having a central aperture and having a conical shaped part around the aperture, the rim of the complementary blank being telescoped Within the rim of the first mentionedblank, and the two blanks being held in assembled relation by theV said inclined walls, a hub with a circumferential groove tting freely within the apertures, the said conical shaped parts being reversely formed to provide a V-shaped raceway, and a series of ball bearings conined between the raceway and the circumferential groove in the hub.

6. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped member with a central aperture, another cup-shaped member telescoped within the first mentioned cup-shaped member and having a central aperture, said members having parts around the apertures of conical shape whereby the parts are separated to form a raceway, a hub freely itting in the apertures and having a raceway, a series of ball bearings conned between the said raceways, one of the cup-shaped members having radially disposed raised portions forming channels connecting the raceways to the outer portions of the members, and one or more apertures in one of the members near the outer portion thereof.

'7, A wheel comprising a cup-shaped member, a complementary cup-shaped member telescoped Within the rst cup-shaped member with the cup formations of both members opening in the same direction, the body portions of the cup shaped members being ush against each other, the inner Walls of the flange of the first mentioned cup-shaped member inclining toward the axis whereby the rst mentioned cup-shaped member is of re-entrant formation and whereby the second mentionedl member is held telescoped Within the rst, both of said members having a central aperture with reversely formed conical parts around their respective apertures, a hub with a circumferential raceway freely fitting within the apertures, said conical parts diverging from each other toward the axis to provide a raceway, and a series of ball bearings confined. between the said raceways.

8. A wheel comprising a cup-shaped member,

a complementary cup-shaped member telescoped v within the rst cup-shaped member with the cup formations of both members opening in the same direction, the body portions of the cup shaped members being flush against each other, 4the inner walls of the iiange of the first mentioned cup-shaped member inclining toward the axis whereby the first mentioned cup-shaped member is of re-entrant formationv and whereby the second mentioned member is held telescoped within the rst, both of said members having a central aperture with reversely formed. conical parts around their respective apertures, a h ib with a circumferential raceway freely fitting within the apertures, said conical parts diverging from each other toward the axis to provide a raceway, and a series of ball bearings confined between the said raceways, the second mentioned cup-shaped member having a series of radially disposed raised portions simulating spokes forming channels oonnecting the racevvays and the outer portions of the members, one of said members having one or more apertures therein communicating with said passages.

ALFRED T. KVARNSTROM. 

